Boko Haram Fast Facts

What is Boko Haram? The meaning of Boko Haram is “Western education is forbidden”. In 2013, the U.S. listed Boko Haram under the category of the “Foreign Terrorist Organization” (“Boko Haram Fast Facts”). In order to understand Boko Haram it is important to know the history, how it affects other foreign countries, and the purpose of Boko Haram is trying to achieve.

Boko Haram has a very strong history. The founder of Boko Haram was Mohammed Yusuf. He founded it in 2002. The center of Boko Haram is in Maiduguri. Boko Haram is not only one group. It includes many factions. They split up and focus on certain topics such as; domestic or international sides of things. The major faction is Ansaru. For major attacks, all factions come together. Boko Haram was first noticed in 2003. They got into an argument with the police about fishing rights. This argument ended with a shooting and mostly 70 members died during this. In 2009, their leader, Mohammed Yusuf died by being killed. After he died, 100 members of the Boko Haram spread out to other places (Zenn). In 2010, Boko Haram got a new leader, Abubakar Shekau (“Boko Haram Fast Facts”). This new leadership led to more and more problems.

Boko Haram is not only affecting Nigeria, but also other foreign countries.

In 2013, Boko Haram kidnapped a french family in Cameroon. They wanting to kidnap this french family was to have Nigeria and Cameroon release their jailed members. A french priest was kidnapped from his church about seven miles from Nigeria and a canadian nun was kidnapped as well (“What does the tactic of foreign kidnappings tell us about Boko Haram?”). A major attack with Boko Haram was kidnapping a group of school girls. According to the Nigerian authorities, as recently as 2014, updated the number of girls kidnapped to 276. At least 53 of the girls escaped, leaving 233 in the hands of their captors (Simpson). Boko Haram has had many attacks and killings dealing with schools, churches, businesses, and etc

(Zenn).
Boko Haram has a purpose of why they’re doing this. The major faction, Ansaru, wants to challenge the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They are strongly wanting the northeastern part to be an Islamic state and their against the western education hence why it’s called Boko Haram. Boko Haram don’t involve themselves in Nigeria’s political system unless it’s related to the Islamic law. Boko Haram also wants to start a war with Christians. It’s getting in the way of turning parts of Nigeria into an Islamic law. Boko Haram doesn’t consider all Muslims being on their side either (Walker).